By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Preparing for the 2024-25 edition of the BKT EuroCup, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem added Austin Wiley and Justin Smith.
A member of the Basketball Champions League star lineup and the most valuable player of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi in a brilliant 2023-24 campaign, the 25-year-old center moved on from Tofas and inked a three-year contract with the Israeli club. He averaged 12.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per contest over 16 appearances in the 2023-24 season of the BCL. In the BSL, he ended up with 15.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
Smith, 25, penned a two-year deal. Another EuroCup newcomer, he is coming off 13 games played in the Champions League with Hapoel Holon in his first overseas campaign, producing 15.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest. Beyond the two signings and retaining Yonatan Alon as the head coach earlier in the offseason, Khadeen Carrington, Gabriel Chachashvili, Noam Dovrat, Chris Johnson, Nimrod Levi, Speedy Smith, and Yovel Zoosman are projected to stick around.
Elsewhere in the EuroCup field, Adam Hanga signed a two-year contract with Joventut Badalona. After ten years and 281 games played in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the 35-year-old Hungarian forward will debut in the EuroCup. He is the second transfer of the offseason, following Kassius Robertson.
Hanlan to Turk Telekom, Jogela to Wolves
Olivier Hanlan emerged as the latest addition to Turk Telekom. The 31-year-old guard followed in the footsteps of Mahir Agva, Ismet Akpinar, Javon Bess, Anthony Brown, Vassilis Charalampopoulos, Berkan Durmaz, Max Heidegger, and Kaan Berk Tarla.
Adding a new player to the roster alongside Adas Juskevicius, Vaidas Kariniauskas, Regimantas Miniotas, Jeffery Taylor, TaShawn Thomas, Kristupas Zemaitis, and Eigirdas Zukauskas, Wolves Twinsbet welcomed Matas Jogela. The 25-year-old Lithuanian swingman signed a two-year contract.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League